Tiger Woods

As a council member of the Kasetsart University, Shinawatra helped award Woods an honorary doctorate of philosophy in sport during the golfer’s visit to Bangkok, according to a report in Time magazine in 2000.

But Woods’ doctorate will not be helping him too much these days, after reports of his extra-marital affairs destroyed his brand image. The professional golfer announced in December last year that he will be stepping out “indefinitely” from the game.

However, one of his few supporters has been Dubai. Mohammad Juma Bu Amin, CEO of golf promoter Golf in Dubai, said in a statement: “We are with you in this difficult time and respect your request for family privacy. As and when you decide to return to the circuit, you can always count on us…. We will be more than delighted to welcome you to Dubai. Consider Dubai your second home.”

Executives have also announced that the $1.1 billion golf community project, Tiger Woods Dubai, will not cut its ties with the golfer, and the development will continue as planned. “Dubai has the biggest, greatest and newest of everything, and hopefully we’ll create an experience here with this golf course that people will remember,” Woods said while promoting the project in 2008.

A regular player in the city, Woods has often expressed his appreciation for Dubai. “I always enjoy visiting Dubai, it’s an extremely hospitable place where the people and the tournament organizers treat the players so well,” he said in 2007.